Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay: 25 Years, 3,400 Animals

Nevada’s only AZA-accredited aquarium just turned 25. Over 21 million guests, 300,000 students educated, 1.6 million gallons of water, 14 exhibits, two underwater tunnels, a touch pool, a VR theater, and a Komodo dragon that is older than most smartphones. Here is everything you need to know before you go.

The Only Predator-Based Aquarium in North America

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino opened in June 2000, making it one of the longest-running non-gaming attractions on the Las Vegas Strip. In June 2025 it celebrated its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter century of operation with more than 21 million guests welcomed and over 300,000 students educated through its programming. It is Nevada’s first and only facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the gold standard of animal welfare, conservation, and education in the industry. It is also the only predator-based aquarium exhibit in North America.

The numbers behind it are worth reading. Over 3,400 animals across 140 species. 1.6 million gallons of freshwater and saltwater across 14 major exhibits. More than 100 sharks. A 1.3-million-gallon shipwreck tank called Neptune’s Fury that is the largest tropical shark exhibit west of the Mississippi. A water filtration system that processes the entire volume of the shipwreck exhibit every three hours. Over 1.5 million water quality tests performed since opening. Staff have completed over 30,000 dives since 2000 without a single shark-related injury. And 10,000 shark teeth visible throughout the facility, which is more than the total number of hotel rooms across Mandalay Bay, W Las Vegas, and Four Seasons combined.

This Is What 1.6 Million Gallons Looks Like Up Close

The experience begins at ground level with an escalator ride up and then follows gently sloping walkways down through the exhibits in a continuous loop that brings you back near the entrance. The design is inspired by ancient Mesoamerican temple ruins, with large stone Mayan-style structures creating the sensation of descending into a submerged world. The lighting is dim throughout, calibrated to feel like dusk underwater, and the transition from the casino floor into that environment is one of the more dramatic arrival experiences available anywhere on the Strip.

The first exhibits introduce freshwater species and reptiles before the experience shifts fully marine. The Komodo dragon exhibit is one of the earliest stops and one of the most genuinely surprising, Shark Reef is home to one of the oldest Komodo dragons in human care at age 26, an animal that commands attention from everyone who stops in front of the enclosure. Golden crocodiles, piranhas, lionfish, and jellyfish all appear in dedicated exhibits before you reach the main attraction.

The two underwater tunnels are the centerpiece of the visit. Walking through the transparent acrylic tube of Neptune’s Fury with Galapagos sharks, grey reef sharks, zebra sharks, sand tiger sharks, a great hammerhead, and a sawfish moving through the water directly above and on either side of you is an experience that photographs and videos do not do justice. The scale of the tank, combined with the silence and the movement of the animals, creates a genuinely memorable few minutes. The touch pool near the end of the loop lets guests gently interact with stingrays and horseshoe crabs with staff on hand for guidance. The gift shop at the exit is well-stocked with marine-themed merchandise, and OD the green sea turtle, who made national headlines after flying from Florida to Las Vegas via FedEx rescue, is visible in his exhibit near the end of the loop.

The VR Theater: Worth Adding On

Every standard admission ticket to Shark Reef now includes the Undersea Explorer VR Theater experience, a virtual reality immersion that takes guests swimming with whales and sharks beyond what any physical exhibit can replicate. The VR experience is available for guests ages 5 and older. Children under 5 may enter the theater but must rotate with a parent or guardian during the VR session. The theater adds a meaningful final chapter to the visit and is the reason most guests describe needing a full hour to 90 minutes rather than rushing through in 45 minutes.

The Work Happening Behind the Glass

Shark Reef participates in eight AZA Species Survival Plans, the cooperative breeding programs that maintain sustainable animal populations for at-risk species. It has contributed over $1 million to conservation and research efforts since opening. Its most notable conservation contribution is the donation of 28 zebra shark eggs to Indonesia’s StAR Project, the world’s first shark repopulation program, making Shark Reef the first North American animal care facility to contribute viable eggs to the program. In partnership with US Fish and Wildlife, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, and the National Park Service, Shark Reef has also contributed to breeding research and conservation of the Devil’s Hole Pupfish, one of the rarest fish species on earth found only in a single pool in Death Valley National Park.

Tickets, Pricing, and What to Know Before You Go

Shark Reef Aquarium is open daily from 10am to 8pm with last admission at 7pm. Standard adult tickets are approximately $30 per person. Children’s tickets are priced lower and free for very young children. Nevada residents receive discounted admission options and periodic promotional pricing. Tickets can be purchased at the box office on the day of the visit or booked in advance through the Mandalay Bay website or third-party booking platforms. Same-day online tickets cannot be picked up less than two hours after placing the order, so book ahead or go directly to the box office. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before your visit.

Getting to Shark Reef requires a long walk through Mandalay Bay from the main entrance, past the casino floor, restaurants, and convention center before reaching the aquarium at the far end of the property. The walk takes 10 to 15 minutes from the front doors and is part of the arrival experience. Free wheelchairs are available at Guest Services on a first-come first-served basis for guests who need them. Photography is welcome throughout but flash photography is prohibited to protect the animals. A high ISO camera setting will produce the clearest images in the low-light environment.

Parking is available in the Mandalay Bay self-park garage. Rideshare drop-off at the main entrance is the easiest option for Strip visitors. The aquarium sits at the south end of the Strip at 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, making it a natural addition to a visit that also includes T-Mobile Arena, the Welcome to Las Vegas sign just south of the property, or a walk north through the MGM-Luxor-Excalibur corridor.

The Full IYKYK Breakdown